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Local taxes › Clinton County › Welton

City

Welton

Clinton County · How cities work

$2,670 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.66 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$750 a yearof that goes to the city ($8.86 per $1,000)
$44,760property taxes the city levies, FY27
$84,532city budget, FY27, without city-run utilities (not yet reported)2

Who runs it

The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.

  • Angela HootmanWelton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Ashley PaulsenWelton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jon MarloweWelton Mayor · elected November 7, 2023
  • Susan MarloweWelton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023

Officials are worked out from election results: every member whose four-year term is still running, plus appointments and titles Iowa Funnel has been told about. A resignation may not show yet.

Meetings and agendas

What the council is deciding: each agenda, the resolutions and ordinances on it, and a plain-language summary.

Iowa Funnel doesn’t read this city’s agendas yet. Every council and board posts its agenda at least 24 hours before it meets.

Property taxes

How the bill is collected · What each levy is for

Who gets a property owner’s tax bill in Welton

Homes and businesses in most of Welton pay a combined $31.66 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Clinton County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $8.86. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Welton pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.61$10.42
FY21$33.06$10.31
FY22$33.46$9.92
FY23$33.00$9.75
FY24$32.39$9.64
FY25$33.41$11.03
FY26$35.55$10.83
FY27$31.66$8.86
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.61$10.42
FY21$33.06$10.31
FY22$33.46$9.92
FY23$33.00$9.75
FY24$32.39$9.64
FY25$33.41$11.03
FY26$35.55$10.83
FY27$31.66$8.86

Compared with places this size3

Welton’s city property tax rate of $8.86 per $1,000 is the 56th lowest of 158 Iowa cities with 80–190 people. The middle of the group is $10.26.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Hansell: $23.66Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Smithland: $21.12Stanley: $20.69Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Derby: $18.13Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Calumet: $13.16Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Cylinder: $12.52Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Decatur: $12.08Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Reasnor: $11.76Morley: $11.74Ledyard: $11.74Toronto: $11.68Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Promise City: $11.13Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Masonville: $11.00Somers: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Pacific Junction: $10.56Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Barnum: $9.96Hartwick: $9.90Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Webster: $9.55Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Wiota: $9.32Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Carpenter: $8.10Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Oyens: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Arispe: $7.71Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Westwood: $7.67Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Franklin: $7.31Spragueville: $7.20Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Zwingle: $6.93Pleasant Plain: $6.79Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Tennant: $6.29Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Welton: $8.86$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 158
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Hansell$23.6685
4Harris$23.13145
5Whitten$22.6598
6Soldier$21.92176
7Smithland$21.12184
8Stanley$20.6986
9Coin$19.59171
10Rowan$19.53118
11Chester$19.30134
12Bouton$19.25125
13Ricketts$19.22105
14Garden Grove$19.20173
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Derby$18.1389
18Hillsboro$17.68158
19Bristow$17.39139
20Woolstock$17.26141
21Prescott$16.53186
22Monmouth$16.41129
23Blockton$16.37123
24Geneva$16.25137
25Waterville$16.25112
26Little Sioux$15.74170
27Moorhead$15.68186
28Woodburn$15.59133
29Kamrar$15.47178
30Goodell$15.16139
31Marne$15.03109
32Baldwin$14.9199
33Davis City$14.45178
34Lucas$14.40176
35Palmer$13.89137
36Ayrshire$13.55128
37Searsboro$13.55129
38Ferguson$13.5398
39Lanesboro$13.53112
40Calumet$13.16144
41Delaware$12.86139
42Patterson$12.84176
43Clemons$12.69135
44Cylinder$12.5284
45Millersburg$12.40135
46Aurora$12.40165
47Bridgewater$12.29145
48Arion$12.1499
49Webb$12.10139
50Decatur$12.08174
51Shambaugh$11.98161
52Lone Rock$11.92143
53East Peru$11.89119
54Henderson$11.85140
55Reasnor$11.76157
56Morley$11.7494
57Ledyard$11.74118
58Toronto$11.68101
59Exline$11.60157
60Beaman$11.54155
61College Springs$11.44172
62Melrose$11.27110
63Linn Grove$11.15155
64Promise City$11.1391
65Randolph$11.08183
66Leighton$11.07153
67Rake$11.05179
68Masonville$11.0098
69Somers$10.99121
70Havelock$10.95127
71Alexander$10.90165
72Lambs Grove$10.78174
73Wallingford$10.75154
74Woden$10.68183
75Pacific Junction$10.5699
76Barnes City$10.44152
77Stockton$10.37171
78Randall$10.35156
79Meriden$10.28175
80Drakesville$10.24170
81North Washington$10.23107
82Dawson$10.19110
83Barnum$9.96186
84Hartwick$9.9091
85Clare$9.81133
86Tingley$9.81146
87Rutland$9.65116
88Van Wert$9.62175
89Rock Falls$9.61143
90Kirkville$9.59159
91Superior$9.58127
92Webster$9.5594
93Martinsburg$9.49109
94Larrabee$9.41116
95Hamilton$9.35125
96Wiota$9.3291
97Floris$9.29119
98Mitchell$9.22118
99Westphalia$9.18133
100Elberon$9.16178
101Blairsburg$8.93175
102Prairieburg$8.91156
103Welton$8.86124
104Archer$8.84116
105Luther$8.83147
106Fraser$8.81107
107Macksburg$8.81103
108Moorland$8.61169
109Pilot Mound$8.54155
110Thor$8.38182
111Andover$8.28106
112Thurman$8.26162
113Boxholm$8.11177
114Carpenter$8.1092
115Rome$8.10112
116Westfield$8.10121
117Vincent$8.09125
118Morrison$7.86101
119Mount Auburn$7.86162
120Haverhill$7.86164
121Oyens$7.8688
122Olds$7.86174
123Castalia$7.86141
124Dickens$7.86146
125Rose Hill$7.86156
126West Chester$7.82147
127Cromwell$7.81104
128Mcclelland$7.79147
129Arispe$7.7195
130Luzerne$7.69111
131Lidderdale$7.68162
132Westwood$7.6796
133Bernard$7.56117
134Braddyville$7.49142
135Franklin$7.31133
136Spragueville$7.2092
137Weldon$7.18134
138Brunsville$6.95128
139Zwingle$6.9386
140Pleasant Plain$6.7983
141Packwood$6.77186
142Houghton$6.73129
143Williamson$6.72126
144Lincoln$6.32119
145Tennant$6.2983
146Gravity$6.18149
147Ackworth$5.90117
148Oakland Acres$5.88178
149Springbrook$5.79145
150Maysville$5.77155
151Harper$5.29117
152Panorama Park$4.62142
153Keomah Village$3.15107
154Mcintire$2.78115
155Sherrill$2.66176
156Centralia$2.41117
157New Liberty$2.27141
158North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Welton’s general levy is $8.37 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.27 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 52 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.37 · FY26 $8.37 · FY27 $8.37 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $0.49 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.49 · $2,440

The city’s levies, FY27

What the city raises from each levy. The general levy is capped by state law; the others are set aside for one purpose.

  • Consolidate General Fund$41,60494%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2,4406%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Welton’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 61¢ of every dollar61¢Public Works: 22¢ of every dollar22¢General Government: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Public Safety: 3¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 1¢ of every dollar

Planned spending from all funds, including city-run utilities like water and sewer (“business type”), which some cities run and others don’t. Transfers between funds are left out. “Cities this size” is the average for the 158 Iowa cities closest in size (80–190 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (158)
Business Type / Enterprise61¢25¢
Public Works22¢27¢
General Government12¢25¢
Public Safety3¢10¢
Culture and Recreation1¢8¢

Planned spending, FY27

All funds: property taxes, utility and other fees, state and federal money. “Business type” is city-run utilities and enterprises like water or sewer.

  • General Government$39,40047%
  • Public Works$34,12540%
  • Public Safety$10,25712%
  • Culture and Recreation$7501%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($137,978 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$31,960$22,664
Public Safety$9,520$9,397
Health and Social Services$100$0
General Government$30,507$31,557
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$2,050$1,839
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$120,800$129,760

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$861,647
$246,910

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Welton owes

$673,000 at June 30, 2026: $5,562 per resident. 97th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$1.3M
$673,000
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$673,000$5,562
2025$718,000$5,934
2024$762,000$6,298
2023$804,000$6,645
2022$846,634$6,997
2021$893,702$7,386
2020$975,857$8,065
2019$1.0M$8,529
2018$1.0M$8,529
2017$1.0M$8,529
2016$1.0M$8,529
2015$1.1M$9,083
2014$1.2M$9,691
2013$1.2M$9,802
2012$1.2M$10,204
2011$1.3M$10,609
2010$1.3M$10,983
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$673,000$5,562
2025$718,000$5,934
2024$762,000$6,298
2023$804,000$6,645
2022$846,634$6,997
2021$893,702$7,386
2020$975,857$8,065
2019$1.0M$8,529
2018$1.0M$8,529
2017$1.0M$8,529
2016$1.0M$8,529
2015$1.1M$9,083
2014$1.2M$9,691
2013$1.2M$9,802
2012$1.2M$10,204
2011$1.3M$10,609
2010$1.3M$10,983

Down 49% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $512,962 (5% of $10.3M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

1 obligation at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsMunicipal water system2038$673,000

General obligation bonds are repaid from property taxes; revenue bonds and loans from the fees or revenue they’re tied to. On the Treasurer’s site

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Welton’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF), released Friday, December 13, 2024, by a CPA firm.

2 earlier reports for Welton

State money

What the State of Iowa pays the city each year, and whether it has kept up with prices. Does state money keep pace? 11

What the state pays the city every year

Road Use Tax for streets, the commercial and industrial tax “backfill”, and ambulance reimbursement, paid every year by formula: $15,955 in FY25, down 17% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 34% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$16,083$15,091$15,966$15,579
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$1,053$903$376

Grants and project money

State grants and money for specific projects (roads, development, natural resources) vary with what the city applies for and wins, so they aren’t counted as the state’s regular support.

$27,475
  • Other$24,94091%
  • CEBA grants$2,5359%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$11,065
FY23$11,477
FY24$5,367
FY25$27,475
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$11,065
FY23$11,477
FY24$5,367
FY25$27,475

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−35%$19,234 → $15,579, down 19% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 35% less

Business awards

Every award statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 284 days.

For the Tuesday, November 2, 2027 election, candidates file Monday, August 23, 2027 to Thursday, September 16, 2027 with the county auditor (or the city clerk, if the auditor names the clerk to take them)12.

In a city that can hold a primary, filing runs Monday, August 9, 2027 to Thursday, August 26, 2027.

Most recent: November 4, 2025

City · 2

    No candidates listed.

      No candidates listed.

      Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Welton; official results are on each county auditor’s site.

      Who has filed for Tuesday, November 2, 2027

      Filing hasn’t opened. These seats are expected on the ballot.

      • Welton City Council At-Large (2 seats)
        Now held by Ashley Paulsen, Susan Marlowe
      • Welton Mayor

      Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

      Past ballot measures

      None found since 2022.

      When a measure can be on the ballot

      • Tuesday, March 2, 2027 · no bond or debt questions
      • Tuesday, September 14, 2027 · no bond or debt questions
      • Tuesday, November 2, 2027 · any question, including bonds
      • Tuesday, March 7, 2028 · no bond or debt questions

      Bonds and other borrowing can only go on the November ballot14.

      Related places

      At the Statehouse and in Congress15

      Mike Zimmer (Sen. 35)Norlin G. Mommsen (Rep. 70)

      U.S. House:District 1

      Clinton CountyCentral Clinton schools